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About
the company
Advancing Regenerative Medicine
Through Development of Cellular Technology and
Advanced Biomaterial Products
Forticell, (formerly Ortec International, Inc.), founded in
1991, was formed to commercialize the technology developed
by Dr. Mark Eisenberg, an Australian general practitioner,
to treat his son for the affects of a rare genetic disease,
Epidermolysis Bullosa (EB). In
a desperate attempt to save his son from having to undergo
additional surgeries, Dr. Eisenberg discovered that he could
create a substitute skin using cells from infant foreskins
and delivering these in a collagen matrix. In 1987,
Dr. Eisenberg successfully applied the technology he discovered,
now known as OrCel®, on his son.
Today, Forticell Bioscience,
Inc. (FORB.OB) has evolved into a fully integrated organization
experienced in the development of natural biomaterials
and tissue engineered cellular therapies. Forticell
completed its initial public offering in January 1996 and
is headquartered in Columbia University’s Audubon Biomedical
Science and Technology Park, located in New York City, New
York.
Forticell is a company
focused on advancing regenerative medicine and stem cell
therapy through the development and commercialization of
innovative products by combining advanced cell technology
and advanced biomaterials. Forticell’s lead product is
OrCel® (Bilayered Cellular Matrix). Forticell’s current
focus is the application of OrCel® to heal chronic and
acute wounds. OrCel® is composed of a collagen sponge
seeded with allogeneic epidermal and dermal cells. These
cells secrete growth factors and cytokines normally found
in acute human wounds and are believed to have a beneficial
role in promoting tissue repair.
A pivotal clinical trial evaluating a cryopreserved version of OrCel® in the treatment of venous leg ulcers has been
completed and a Pre Market Approval (PMA) application has
been filed. Forticell has already obtained FDA approvals
for use of a non-frozen version of OrCel® in the treatment
of Epidermolysis Bullosa and donor sites in burn patients.
In addition, the FDA has granted Forticell approval to initiate
a pivotal (Phase III) trial evaluating OrCel® for the
treatment of diabetic foot ulcers.
Forticell recently acquired
two fibrin derived advanced biomaterial technologies, Fibrin
Microbeads (Fibrin MB) and Haptides™. Fibrin MB
have the potential to play a significant role in advancing
stem cell therapy having demonstrated the ability to efficiently
recover adult stem cells and allow for their growth, proliferation,
and potential reimplantation into the patient. Haptides™ utilize
proprietary synthetic peptides that mimic the mechanism of
cell attachment to fibrin. These peptides have demonstrated
the ability to significantly enhance cell attraction and
attachment providing the potential to use Haptides™ in
the development of product opportunities applicable to the
cosmetic tissue augmentation, wound healing, orthopedics,
and drug delivery markets.
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